Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
Ver. 22. Now therefore be ye not mockers.] For those are the worst of men; Isa 28:14 pests, the Septuagint commonly render them; abjects and castaways David calleth them, and yet they proudly disdain others, and far their betters, as thimbles full of dust, and the goodly braveries of their scorn. But shall they escape by this iniquity? - shall they carry it away so? In no wise. For
Their bands shall be made strong.] a "Their sorrows shall he multiplied," and they shall have more load of miseries and mischiefs laid upon them, though now they mock at God's menaces as uttered in terrorem, only for fray-bugs, b and at his ministers as false prophets. Among many other memorable examples of God's judgments upon such out of God's blessed book, the Acts and Monuments of the Church, and other histories, Nicholas Hemingius relateth a story of a lewd fellow in Denmark, A.D. 1550, which usually made a mock at religion and the professors of it. And on a time coming into a church where a godly minister was preaching, by his countenance and gestures showed a great contempt against the Word; but as he passed out of the church, a tile fell upon his head and slew him in the place. How much more mercifully dealt almighty God with that miller in Leicestershire, who, sitting in an alehouse on a Sabbath day with one of his companions, said to him, I hear that bawling Hooker is come to town, let us go and hear him, we shall have excellent sport; and accordingly they went on purpose to jeer him. But it pleased God the sermon so wrought upon him, that, being pricked at the heart, he went to Mr Hooker, entreating him to tell him what he might do to be saved, and afterwards went with him to New England. c By sins men's bands are made strong, as by repentance they are loosened. Videte ergo ut resipiscatis mature. d
a Ne vincula vestra invalescant.
b An object of fear; a bogy, spectre
c Mr Clark from Mr White.
d Jun.